India in Bangladesh, 2007

Bulletin

India take command in Dhaka

25 May 2007

India took full advantage of an inexplicable decision by Bangladesh captain to put them in on a batting paradise, and ended day one on 326 without loss of any wicket in the second and final Test in Dhaka today.

full report to follow....

Bulletin at tea

Indian openers dominate first two sessions

India made a very strong start in the series deciding second and final Test after Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar won the toss and decided to put India in at Mirpur Sher E Bangla Stadium in Dhaka

Indian opener Wasim Jaffer and Dinsesh Karthik made a cautious start to cope with the early movements of the wicket, and denied Bangladesh any early breakthrough before lunch. India were 67-0 at lunch and Bashar's decision to bowl first offered no dividend to Bangladesh.

After lunch, both the openers started to put firm hold on the match with some aggressive stroke play, and India raced to 175 for 0 at Tea. Karthik, who was very cautious in the pre-lunch session, took the lead and a big total by India is right on the cards. Karthik is now batting on 82 off 153 deliveries, and his opening partner Jaffer is on 86 from 168 deliveries.

Bashar's decision to bowl first took a further blow as Mashrafe Mortaza, the premier Bangladesh paceman, limped off the field after suffering an ankle injury in his 10th over.

Bangladesh failed to capitalize on their opportunities and dropped vital catches in the early on in the Indian innings. Karthik was dropped at 10 by Shakib Al Hasan at second slip when he edged a Syed Rasel delivery, and Mohammad Rafique failed to grab a simple return catch from Wasim Jaffer in his first over after lunch.

Bangladesh made two changes in their playing XI from the previous Test. Expecting some pace and bounce on the Mirpur track, they recalled seamer Mohammad Sharif, who played his last Test in 2002, in place of spinner Enamul Haque Jr. Left arm seamer Syed Rasel is playing his first Test of the series as Paceman Shahadat Hossain failed to recover from high fever.

On the other hand India made only one change in the squad, and handed Test cap to young Delhi pacer Ishant Sharma who got the nod ahead of VRV Singh.